Recommended by Nick Malakhow

Such a fully and gloriously realized science fiction world. Chisa manages to create a compelling reality (which includes surprising reveals st the end) without a whiff of unnecessary exposition. Each central character in the sizeable ensemble is complex and nuanced, and the exploration of communication/language is super fascinating. As an allegory for slavery, it is also a thorough and nuanced exploration of dehumanization, alienation, identity, and subjugation. I would so love to see this in production!

A bold, theatrical exploration of identity, coming of age, trauma, and mental health in adolescents. I so appreciated how Feinstein's teenage characters were complex, mercurial, and nuanced humans--making them all the more real! In this piece, they raise essential conversations about depression and trauma in teens and the ways those things shape and inform their lives going forward. I loved the ways these characters were so different in various settings--Zachary with Marisol, vs. Beth, vs. their fantastical/musical friends--which also felt true to life. The final scene is a potent, powerful coda. I'm eager to track this play's trajectory!

This play just touched me deeply! An exquisite combination of hilarity and humanity that explores huge topics like cis adolescent male masculinity, friendship, mortality, and family trauma entirely through the intimate and fully-realized relationship of Jamie and Sam. Huffman's use of shifting chronology, the theatricality of baseball, and the performativity of masculine friendship all come together beautifully in a piece that I would love to see onstage. Lovely and subtle work.

A lush, atmospheric, and highly theatrical piece with compelling stage images and visual metaphors used throughout. The two complex characters at the center of this piece are rendered with such clarity and nuance. I appreciated that Olivo simultaneously did not shy away from the traumas (familial and otherwise) these characters face and have faced, while also centering this loving relationship. It acknowledged their hardships while still maintaining hope and possibility.

A delightfully hilarious satire populated by such well-defined and recognizable characters. I loved the way that the central action of this play lived in little seismic shifts between characters and within the overall group dynamic, which all lead up to an appropriately fabulous shift in the beleaguered Moderator. It manages to stay light overall while still taking sharp and effective jabs at consumerism, marketing, identity, and human relationships. The unity of time/space is also highly theatrical! I'd love to see this live.

Absolutely hilarious piece that moves at a brisk clip. The sharp, biting humor manages to stay light while Barlow explores queer friendship and dating, intimacy, and self-actualization into adulthood. I was particularly taken with the examination of the ways certain relationships sometimes hold us back and the poignant conclusion that escaping those friendships don't necessarily serve as a panacea one hopes they will be. Amelia and Sean are spectacular and charming anti-heroes for actors to sink their teeth into, and the ensemble of demons/characters would be a treat for adaptable, versatile performers.

A briskly-paced, intelligently written piece that centers around a dynamic and engaging family. It's beautifully structured, beginning with a sense of tension and comedy that play off one another well and serve as a potent preamble to unsettling and surprising, yet entirely plausible revelations. Cann explores a distinctly American brand of political ambition and desire by illuminating the individual story of this very well-rendered family. I'd love to see this in production!

A beautiful examination of loss, grief, guilt, family, and legacy populated by well-defined characters with crystal clear voices. I enjoyed both the easy naturalism of the speech paired with the slightly heightened and magical theatricality of Arletta's abilities. A great mix of comedy and pathos. I'd love to see it live!

Beautiful, beautiful piece populated by a sizeable ensemble of complex, nuanced individuals. I appreciated how it was set in the orbit of the Pulse nightclub massacre, allowing Crayton to explore identity, faith, family, generational strife and trauma within this Black family in a way that both feels wide and intimate in scope. All of the characters are amazingly rendered, and I found the dual journeys of Elijah and Olivia to be particularly compelling and hopeful. The balance of humor and tragedy is affecting and engaging. I'd love to see it live!

A really interesting and nuanced exploration of intersectional identity; various manifestations of overt and covert homophobia; and complex issues of political asylum, assimilation, and independence. In Matthew, Proft examines what happens when an ostensibly well-meaning white liberal imposes their cultural views, identities, and values onto other individuals coming from different social, political, and cultural contexts. The evolution of David and Matthew's relationship is human and interesting to watch, and the piece balances humor with poignant pathos.